Comparison of the efficacy between Chinese-made and USA-made drug-eluting stents in treatment of ostial lesions of the left anterior descending coronary artery

AIM: To compare the efficacy of Chinese-made and USA-made sirolimus-eluting stents in the treatment of ostial lesion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. METHODS: Ninety-five patients with LAD ostial lesion were implanted with stents made in China (Chinese-made stent group, n=68) or stents made in the USA (USA-made stent group, n=27). Follow-ups were conducted in all patients and angiographic examinations were performed in some patients. RESULTS: The procedure was successful in all patients. More acute myocardial infarction was observed in Chinese-made stent group but no significant difference was found between groups (46% vs. 33%, P=0.31). Significantly more calcified, eccentric plaques and C-type lesions were seen in the Chinese-made stent group compared with those seen in the USA-made stent group (20% vs. 4%; 14% vs. 0%; 28% vs. 7%, P<0.05), but angiographic follow-up showed no significant difference in the rate of in-stent and in-segment restenosis between groups. No significance was observed in the rate of main adverse events between groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with USA-made sirolimus-eluting stents, Chinese-made sirolimus-eluting stents are as safe and effective in the treatment of LAD coronary artery ostial lesion.